Garment steamer



April 27, 1943'. c. R. LENDLE 2,317,924v

GARMENT STEAMER Filed Feb. 6, 1942 3 Sheets-Shea?I 1 IN V EN TOR.

April 27, 1943. c. R. LENDLE GARMENT STEAMER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 6, 1942 TOR.

IN1/EN April 27, 1943.

c. R. LENDLE 2,317,924

GARMENT STEAMER Filed Feb. 6,. 1942 3 Sheets-SheetI 5 INVENT R.

ATI'DRNEYS i Patented Alia2?, 1943 UNITED "STAT-as' s'irzaiinzn. `Carl E. Lendle, Youngstown, Ohio Appumnrebmry s, 1942, serial 10.429331 the @en-ings '3u' "landle is attached'toihe My invention.I relates to garments', and 'has among its`I objects and advantages theprovision of an improved garment renovating and `cleaning device of the steam type. i

In the accompanying drawings:l i. Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View in accordance with my invention;y

Figure 2 is a sectional ment clamp; 1 Y l Figure 3 is a sectional detail view of the clamp of Figure 2 but showing the Vclamp in its nonclamping position;

detail view of la gar- Figure 4 is as ectional detail viewof the mount for one of .the garment shoulder supporter-f` Figure 5 is a View taken. along the? line 5 5 ofFigure1;``

Figure 6 is a side elevational View of the device; Y v

Figure?! is a cross sectional view of the upper part of the device illustrating a garment in a steamingposition;

- Figure isa sectional View lalong the line 8`8 l of Figure 1; i 1 y Figure 9 is a sectional detail view of one of themechanical pressure devices; and

Figure 10 is an elevational sectional View of a housing whichy may be provided for the'device of.

Figures 1 and 6.

In the embodiment selected for illustration,

I make use ofbase structure i2 comprising an upright tubular shell I4- provided with a rein-4 forcing ring I6 about its lower end. Housing I2 is provided with a series of screenedopenings l1 -plate 40 to facilitate rotation thereof. t To the flange 24 isv securedani-` upright and hollow garment forni 46. Vwhich form comprises a lower section 48 and an u`ppep setion .5gg iThe entirevertical lengths..*'li'he ywire `mesh of the section 52 is vfixedly secured' tothe flange 24., A reinforcing ring l5 6 issecured to the upper end of the mesh 52 of the lower section and a similar vring 58 is secured tothe lower endfof the mesh 52 ofv the upper section g5ll.V A hinge connection 60 is provided between-the sections 48-and 50- to lend accessibility tothe interiorsof thetwosections. The sectionss and 50; when arranged end to `end, are characterizedbye uniform taper upwardly, and the two sections.l are circularY in cross section. .e l -v j A'bar 62 issecuredto the ring 56 andis provided with abearing'il resting on the curved upper end 66fof a shaft 68 secured tothe steam -chest 36. A cup-10 is secured to thebar 62 for serveslargely as ameanstoprevent rocking of for the inlet ovf'air circulated through and about y the garment. Y

Upon the housing I 2 is mounted a plate i8 having a downwardly extending ange Zillooselyv encircling the upper end of the housing and resting on aange 22 secured to the housing; Plate I8 may be oscillated a limited distance about the axis of the housing l2. Plate i8` is in the nature o f a large disk having a central flange 26 loosely engaging 'anf annular flange 26 lon a `plate k28 justed to controlthe circulation of air through provided with openings 30 for 4the passage of air.

the formvupon the shaft.

To the sections'iiand 50 are secured api-u;- ralityof pressure bags or pouches 1 2. One bag is provided lfor :each ofthe `slots 52.`":.Al 1 the bags are formed 'of suitable'fabriciwhich permits. the passage 'of steam therethrough. Figure 9 illustrates the manner -in which the bags lare secured to the wire mesh 52. Thebag trated in cross'sectionl and has an open side communicating withthe slot 54. Vertical reinforcing bars 14 are secured to thel mesh 5 2 `bybolts 'i6/which extend through outside bars N between which and themeshf52are secured the margins of the bag l2about the side openingtherein. All the bags are identicalfin construction and. operation. f l' of Figure 9 is illus- Garments te; be .am "treated" are 'p1-ddimthe form and steamis Ialdniitted therein for treating purposes.'l The pressure of thesteam expands the bags, as in Figure 7,'.jsoas tohold the garment in a taut condition. The steam 'passes through the bags and through` themesnb'gtween the bags for passage through the garment.. jy The bags'f'l l exert uniformpressure tothefgarni'ent through- 'out all the areas engagedthereby; ,Inl addition,

the bags are *for-xlrit-tingl so as to press uniformLv againstV irregular contours:` inorder vtohold ithe garment distended. i

To accomodate the device to garments which vary considerably in size, the bags 12 are provided with extension folds which may be released to considerably enlarge the bags. In Figure 9, the bag 12 is provided with a slide fastener 82 extending longitudinally of the bag. With the slide fastener 82 closed, as illustrated, the excess material of the bag 12 lies in a fold 84 which distends only upon opening of the fastener 82 and the introduction of steam under pressure in the bag. Longitudinal metallic strips 88 are incorporated in the bag 12. These strips are thin and of such flexibility as to bend easily to the contour of the garment. Their stiffness is such, however, as to lend desirable stability to the bag.

Figure 8 illustrates -the collapsed conditions of the bags 12. After steaming, suction is created inside the form 48 for removing steam therefrom.

the bar A|82 from the bar |22 permits the bar ||2 to be pivoted to the dotted line position of Fig-` ure 6. A stop |84 is provided on the support ||8 for engaging the bar ||2 in its dotted line position. Spring ||8 is so arranged as to yieldingly support the bar I2 in its full or dotted line positions by reason of the location of the pivot ||4.

Rear clamp |84 is pivoted at 88 to a link |88 pivoted at |48 to a bar |42 secured to the flange which suction causes the bags 12 to collapse to the -positions of Figure 8. The end and side marsins of the bag 12 fold inwardly in response to the low pressurecondition inside the form, and the strips 88 tend to stabilize the form so as to facilitate neat and orderly folding of the bags under the influence of the low pressure condition.

Two garment shoulder supports 88 are provided at the upper end of the section 58. This end of the section is provided with a neck contour 88 having a reinforcing ring 82 incorporated therein. as in Figure 4. 'I'he supports 88 comprise bars 84 having a hinge connection 88 with the ring 82, and pads 88 are secured to the outer ends of the bars. Bolts |88 secure the pads to the bars. The bars may be provided with a series of openings to permit adjustment of the pads longitudinally of the bars to accommodate garments of different sizes. A precise ilt is unnecessary since the purpose of the supports is to prevent the garment from dropping downwardly on the form and to hold it in place until the bags 12 are dlstended. The hinges 88 permit the shoulder supports to be folded for compactness. Figure C illustrates a' front garment clamping bar |82 and a rear clamping bar |84. Clamping bar |82 is pivotally connected at |88 with an arm |88 pivotally connected at |8 with the upper end of an arm ||2 pivotally connected at I4 with a supporting bar ||8 xedly secured to the flange 28. A tension spring ||8 has one end connected with a pin |28 attached to the har ||2 and its other end attached to the support ||8. With the bar ||2 positioned-in accordance with Figure 6, the spring ||8 yieldingly holds the bar in the position shown. To the upper end of the bar |82 is connected a bar |22, as by a bolt |24. Bar |i22 may bedisconnected from the bar |82. A link |28 has one end pivotally connected with the bar |22 and its opposite end pivotally connected with a member |28 secured to the neck contour 88. A lapel presser member |88 is secured to the bar |22.

Between the bar |82 and the form 48 may be positioned a garment-engaging plate 82 particularly suitable for suit .coats of the singlebreasted type.` This plate may be shifted vertically in conformity with'the lengthV of the coat. Bar |82 may shift laterally upon distention of the bags 12. Such shifting of the bar |82 causes the bar to elevate slightly as it moves laterally but the spring ||8 yieldingly holds the bar against the garment so as to retain the garment in an overlapping condition along its front margins.

The'eoats of the singlebreasted type are supported in a closed position by reason of the plate |82 andthe lapel presser |88. Disconnection .of

|28. Bar |84 may be moved to the dotted line position of Figure 2 and is yieldngly held in either position by a tension spring |44 so arranged as to take positions on opposite sides of the pivot |48 when moved to an operative or inoperative position. Bar |42 is provided with a stop 48 to restrain the link |88 from pivotal movement beyond its dotted line position. Clamp |84 is employed in connection with overcoats and the like wherein there is a slit in the lower end of the garment.

Two garment side clamps |58 are provided. Each clam'p |58 comprises an upstanding bar |52 having an arm |54 adjustabiy mounted at |58 on the plate |8 so that the clamp may be moved toward and away from the form 48 in accordance with the demands of particular garments. A pull chain |58 is attached to each of the arms |54 to facilitate outward adjustment thereof. The two side clamps |88 are identical in construction.

In Figures 2 and 3, the side clamp |58 comprises a resilient strap |88 of slight curvature. A body |82 is attached to the strap |88 and is provided with an opening for the reception of the bar |52. The curvature of the strap |88 is normally less than that of the. section 48 in the plane of the two clamps |58. To the body |82 is pivotally connected a rigid member |84 of considerably more curvature than the normal curvature of the strap |88. Strap 88 may be bent into garment-engaging position throughout its entire length by pivoting the member |84 to the position of Figure 2 which causes the strap to bend in conformity with the curvature of the member |84. Such a clamp provides a clamping action which engages the garment gently in that the strap is bent progressively to its garment-engaging curvature:

A pipe |88 communicates with the steam chest 88 for delivering steam thereto. The steam chest 88 is perforated at |88 for delivering steam inside the form 48. A quick opening valve |18 is interposed in the pipe 1.88 and this pipe communicateswith the upper end of a chamber |12 having a'steam inlet pipe |14 communicating therewith at its upper end. Pipe |14 leads to a sultable steam generator (not, shown). A drain pipe |18 has communication with the bottom end of the chamber |82 for removing any condensate which may be collected therein.

An endless pipe |18 is positioned underneath the plate 28 and has communication with the steam pipe |88 through the medium of a branch pipe |88. Pipe |18 is arranged concentrically of the steam chest 88 and is of such diameter as to span the slots 88, as illustrated in Figure 5. The pipe |18 is perforated at |82 to deliver steam through the slots 88 and the openings 42 in the damper plate 48.

Upon the supports 88 is mounted a finned coil |84 having .a steam inlet pipe |88 communicating with its inside convolution and an outlet pipe |88 communicating with its outside convolution and the drain pipe |18. The plate |8 is perforated at |88, and the finned coil |84 underlies the plate |8 and the plate 28 so that heated air may circuthe latter. A fan |82 is located underneath the iinned coil |84 for rotation about a vertical axis i to circulate air upwardly through the'nnned coil.

Thefan |92 may be driven by a motor |94 mounted inside the base structure |2. Pipe |89 communicates with a pipe |98 leading to the steam generator.

Inside the section 48 of the form 48 is located a heating coil |98 provided with a steam inlet pipe 200 communicating with the pipe |98. A valve 202 is interposed in .the pipe |99 to control the admission of steam to the heating coil |98. The' outlet pipe 204 of the heating coil |98 has communication with the drain pipe |18. After steaming a garment, steam maybe evacuated from the form 48 through the medium of a pipe 208 communicating with the steam chest 38. Pipe 208 communicates with a suitable suction device (not shown).

To the ilange 20 is flxedly secured two vertically spaced bars 208 through the medium of supports 2|0'. The two .bars 208 are curved in conformity with the flange 20 but are spaced therefrom so that rings 2|2 secured to the support ||8 may slide freely on the bars. Thus the formr48 may be Iclaim: 1. A garmentl steamer comprising a hollow form, steam pervious garment stretching Abag i means having communication with the interior of s aid hollow form, means for admitting steam to said hollow form for passage through said bag means and through a garment draped on the hollow form, said bag means comprising a plurality of bag units spaced about said hollow form, and -said hollow form being pervious to steam throughout the spaces between said bag units.

2. A garment steamer comprising a hollow garment form, air pervious garmenhstretching bag means having communication with the interior of said hollow form, means for blowing heated air into said hllow form for passage through said bag means and'through a garment draped on said hollow form to dry the garment, said bag means rotated about the axis of the shaft 88 and the clamping bar |02 may be rotated about the axis oi the form. Such rotation is desirable when accommodating the form to garments of doublebreasted land singlebreasted types. Thus the clamps .may be adjusted to bring a particular type of garment into proper relationship with the clamps. Upstanding handles 2|4 are secured to i the plate I8 to facilitate rotation of the form 48.

The valve 202 ma'y be closed to cut off the steam supply with respect to the iinned coil |84 and the heating coil |98. Cold air may then be blown into-the form 48 f or expanding f ur coats and the like to shape the garment while a hand nozzle is employed to work the fur from the outside. With the valve 202 open, steam is admitted toboth the nned coil |84 and the heater |98 so that heated air `may be blown into the form 48. 'I'he fan |82 blows air inside the form to expand the bags 'I2- against the garment. The e admission of steam to the form 48 is controlled yby the valve |10, and the bag 12 and the mesh 52 are sufficiently pervious to pass steam therethrough for garment-treating purposes.

After,l steaming a garment, the steam is shut off anathema isz is permitted to'operste. Thus vthegjaircirculated upwardly by the fan |92 is comprising a plurality of bag units spaced about said hollow form, and said hollow form being pervious to air throughout the-spaces lbetween said -bag umts.

3. A- garment steamer comprising a hollow garment form, air and steam pervious garment stretching bag means having communication with the interior oi said hollow form, means for admitting vsteam to said vhollow form for passage through said bag means and through a garment draped on the hollow form, means for blowing heated ai'r into said hollow form to expand said bag means and stretch the garment and pass drying air through the garment, said bag means comprising a series 4o f bag units spaced about said hollow form, and said'hollow form being pervious to air and steam throughout the spaces between said bag' units` 4. A garment steamer vcomprising a hollow form, steam pervious garment stretching -bag means having communication with the interior of said hollow form. means for admitting vsteam to said hollow form for passage through said bag ment form, air pervious garment stretchingbag means having communication with the interior l of said hollow form, means for blowing heated eifectively heated by reason of the finned coil |84 j andthe coil |88 so that the garment maybe thoroughly dried while in an expanded condition.

.Figure 'l0' illustrates a casing 2|8 secured to I the-*base structure I2 and provided with a large v 'opening-2|8 which may be closed by a door 220.

air into said hollow form for passage through said bag means and through a garment draped on said hollow lform to dry the garment, said bag means comprising a plurality of bag units spaced about said Vhollow form, said hollow form being pervious to air throughout the spaces between Flanges 222 are attachedto the casing 2|8 for 60 coaction with rollers 224 secured to the door 220.

- VCasing2|8 is of suillcient diameter to provide ample space therein for the form 48. The casing may beprovidedwith an opening 228 at its upper end forthe 'circulation of air and steam therevTwo "ofthe bags 'I2 arefprovided with sleeve f6rmer`s230 of the same material asthe bags to said bag units. said hollow form having a wall at its lower end provided with a' plurality of open-ings. and means coacting with said wall'to variably close said openings for controlling the l passage ofair therethroug 6. A garment steamer comprising a hollow garment form, air vand steam pervious garment stretching bag means having communication with the interior of said hollow form,v means for admitting steam to said hollow'form for passage through said bag means and through a garment draped on the hollow form, means for vblowing A heated air into said hollow form to expand said l bag means and stretch the garment and pass drying air through the garment, said .bag means comprislnga series of bag units spaced about 4 i said hollow form, said hollow form being pervios to air and steam throughout the spaces between said bag units, and means at the lower end of said hollow form for controlling the passage of steam and drying air into the form.

7. A garment steamer comprising a hollow form, steam pervious garment stretching bag means -having communication with the interior of said hollow form, means for admitting steam to said hollow form for passage through said bag means and through a garment draped on the hollow form, said bag means comprising a plurality of bag units spaced about said hollow form, said hollow form being pervious to steam throughout the spaces between said bag units, and clamp devices for clamping the garment 4against the hollow form.

8. A garment steamer comprising a hollow garment form, air pervious garment stretching bag means having communicationwith the interior of said hollow form, means for blowing heated air into said hollow form for passage through said bag means and through a garment draped on said hollow form to dry the garment, said bag means comprising a plurality of bag units spaced about said hollow form, said hollow form being pervious to air throughout the spaces between said bag units, and clamp devices for clamping the garment against certain of said bag units.

9. A garment steamer comprising a hollow garment form, air and steam pervious garment stretching bag means having communication with the interior of said hollow form, means for admitting steam to said hollow form for passage through said bag means and through a garment draped on the hollow form, means for blowing heated air into said hollow form to expand said bag means and stretch the garment and pass drying air through the garment, said bag means comprising a series of bag Aunits spaced about said hollow form. air and steam pervious sleeve formers on `certain of said` bag means, said hollow form being pervious to air and steam throughout the spaces between said bag units, and clamp devices for clamping the garment against said hollow form, said hollow form being rotatable about a vertical axis relatively to said clamp devices and certain o! said clamp devices having resilient garment-engaging means and being rotatable about the axis of the form.

10. Adgarment steamer ycomprising a hollow garment form, air and steam pervious garment stretching bag means having communication with the interior of said hollow form, means for ad` lng a steam chamber communicating with said hollow form, a suction pipe having communication with said steam chamber, said hollow form being provided with a base haying a perforated wall for the passage of steam and drying air exteriorly oi the garment closely adjacent the hollow form, and means for enlarging said bag units.

CARL R. LENDLE. 

